Card index



R. CA FINCH I Jan. 3, 1939.

CARD INDEX Filed Sept. 16, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet l u INVENTOR l aiymmaq @0F By MMI/M f gym/L ATTORNEYS f Jan. 3, 1939.

R. c. FINCH 2,142,098

CARD INDEX Filed Sept. 16, 1957 5 Slleets-Shee'l'l 2 3? `l 19 612 A 3P 151 1.9

I 1f 63 if as 111;: m I TEE n INVENTOR Rayma @md @Mneh w, .7m/W, M PMM ATTORNEYS Jam., 3, N39

Filed Sept. 16, 1937 5 SheeS-Sheel 3 INVENTOR Raymond C'Jfinch ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1939.

R. c. FVINCH.

CARD INDEX Filed Sept. 16, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 v INVENTOR Raymond C'J'znchv BY 12a/17, -%,Jw4, M2M f MM ATTORN EYS l Jan.43, 1939. c. FlNcH 1 2,142,098

GARD 'INDEX Filed Sept. 16, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ffg F1310 17g-11 INVENTOR f Raymond L '.Finch BY MHZ/JW, M r MM ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE GARD INDEX Application September 16, 1937, Serial No. 164,192

14 Claims.

This invention relates to card indexes of the class commonly known as visible indexes, wherein cards, arranged with their indentication-receiving margins in overlapping relationship, are

mounted on hangers whose ends are appropriately attached to a panel as by having their ends received in channels presented by the panel. In accordance with this invention, each carrier supports a plurality of cards, that term being used in a broad sense and meaning, in one case, a relatively thick and stiff card, which may or may not be folded, and in another case, a relatively thin sheet which is folded to embrace the carrier. The relatively thick and stiff card, whether single or folded may be the master card to receive an indentiiication on an exposed margin, and may also carry part of the record, whil-e the relatively thin, folded card or cards, auxiliary to the master card may carry a further part or parts of the record.

In accordance with this invention, the folded, auxiliary sheet or sheets embrace the carrier which may be, for example, a wire, while the stiff card is attached, as by hinge members, to the wire, and the hinge members, with the stiff card attached thereto, may be detached from the wire or other carrier without first removing the folded sheet or sheets. In accordance'withV one form of the invention, a single, folded, auxiliary sheet is employed, while in another a plurality of the auxiliary sheets are employed. In the latter form, one sheet may, for example, be removed from and replaced on the wire vor other carrier without removing the other auxiliary sheet or sheets, and without removing the main or master card.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection With the accompanying drawings of two embodiments of the invention, while itsv scope will be pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation, partly in section, of a card index embodying oneform of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on line 2-2 of Figl;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a carrier, a main or master card attached to the vcarrier by hinges, and an auxiliary sheet attached to the carrier by receiving the vcarrier in the fold of the auxiliary sheet, the latter being shown unfolded, the better to illustrate the same;

Fig. 4 is an elevationA of the parts shown in Fig. 3 but with the auxiliary sheet folded, the better to illustrate the main or master sheet;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a second embodiment of the invention, showing one of the three auxiliary sheets partially unfolded, the better to illustrate the mode of attachment of a second auxiliary sheet to the carrier in such manner that it can be removed from the carrier without removing any other sheet or card;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a portion of the-carrier and a portion of one of the three auxiliary sheets, showing their relative arrangement, the sheet being shown unfolded;

Fig. '7 is an elevation of a portion of the assembly of the carrier, a hinge member, the main or master card and the three auxiliary sheets;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of another portion of the assembly of the carrier, a second hinge member, the main or master card and the three auxiliary sheets;

Fig. 9 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of the carrier, a portion of the main or master card, and one of the hinge members by which such card is hingedly mounted on the carrier;

Fig. l0 is a sectional view on line lll-I0 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 1l is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9 as viewed from the opposite direction.

Referring to the drawings and to the embodiments of the invention illustrated therein by way of example, there is shown a card index comprising a suitable supporting frame such as a panel I3 (see Fig. 1) presenting channels I5 (see Fig. 2) to receive the ends of appropriate hangers such as pintle rods or wires l1 desirably provided with terminal enlargements such as cylindrical trunnions I9 permitting the hangers to turn about their respective axes and to slide lengthwise of the channels. The peripheries of the trunnions engage one another in series, they space the wires, and they provide the desired overlap or exposure of the identication-receiving margins of the cards presently to be described. 'Ihe wires are resilient and may be sprung to permit their removal or replacement.

The wires constitute pintles for hinge members (see rigs. 9, l@ and ll) which, in the present i *ance are precisely like those shown and deser ed in Linn Patent No. 51,955,592, dated April i?, 35534, to which reference may be had for furt er disclosure. As in the Linn patent, each member comprises a resilient metal strip which is pierced or slit as at 23 and extruded to form a tongue or varm 25, while the surround` ing portion of the strip, from which the tongue was punched constitutes a second arm 21. These two arms embrace and clamp a marginal portion of a. card 29 between them as shown in Fig. 10. 'Ihe arm 21 is provided with a lug 3|, perpendicular to the faces of the card margin, and snugly received in a slot 33 of corresponding size and shape punched in the card a suitable distance from and parallel with the adjacent edge of the card. This edge rests against a suitable abutment 35 (see Fig. 10) presented by the tongue or arm 25. Inasmuch as the metal is resilient, the arms may be sprung apart to permit the card margin to be conveniently attached to and detached from the hinge member.

The hinge member has two coaxial bearing portions 31 which turn on and about the pintle, said bearing portions being provided with entrances 39 (see Fig. 10) just large enough to permit the pintle to be introduced into and removed from the bearing portions. As shown, these entrances face in generally opposite directions, though they are not actually directly opposite or in line with each other, for the reason that this arrangement of the entrances is particularly effective in preventing accidental detachment of the hinge member from the pintle.

The two bearing portions are separated from each other endwise by a space 4| at least as great 3Qr-as the diameter of the pintle, and herein a substantially greater distance, and in this example, the adjacent ends of the bearing portions 31 are sloped or beveled as at 43 to facilitate the attachment of the hinge member to the pintle. As

explained in the aforesaid Linn patent, the pintle and the hinge member are moved relatively to bring the pintle into the space 4| and one is then moved angularly with relation to the other until they approach a coaxial position, whereupon the pintle will enter the two entrances 39 in the bearing portions. Assuming two hinge members to have been attached to a card, first one and then the other hinge member is attached tc the pintle, while bending the card along the edge to which the hinge members are attached.

As stated, the hereinbefore described carrier and hinge members are employed by Way of example, and furnish one convenient means of supporting the various cards and folded sheets of Iboth embodiments of the present invention.

In the simpler form of the .invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, there is a main or master card 2S, already referred to, which, as shown in Fig. 4, comprises two leaves, 45 and 41, and isV `folded along a line 49, and the leaf .1 is provided with two apertures 5| to receive the arms 21, respectively, of the hinge members. The leaf 41 is the wider of the two (transversely of the wire) and its exposed margin will be provided with an identification for the main or master card and for the accompanying auxiliary folded sheet (or plurality of sheets in the second embodiment hereinafter described). If a folded, main or master card is not desired, as where less area is suicient, a single leaf may be employed and this leaf will, of course, be of sufficient width (transversely of the pintle) to be one of a series of overlapping, exposed margins. With sucn single, main or master leaf, this embodiment will be reduced to its simplest terms, so to speak.

Before the main or master card, with its hinge members, is attached to the pintle, an auxiliary sheet 53, folded along a line 55 and presenting two leaves 51 and 59, is suitably mounted on the carrier as by providing the auxiliary sheet with two perforations 6| (see Fig. 3) of sufficient size to pass the trunnions, so that the carrier may be threaded through rst one and then the other of the perforations and its principal portion will occupy the principal portion of the fold of the sheet while the remaining portions of the wire (see Fig, 4) will lie outside the fold. The auxiliary sheet is further provided with apertures 63 of sufficient size to receive the hinge members, and thus the hinge members, and likewise the main or master card, may be applied to and removed from the carrier while the folded, auxiliary sheet remains attached to the carrier. It should be observed, of course, that the perforations 6| as Well as the apertures 63 are intersected (and, in fact, in the present example bisected) by the line 55 of the fold.

A more elaborate form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, '1 and 8. In this form, a single leaf, main or master card 29 is employed and it is attached by hinge members to a carrier, both in all respects like those hereinbefore described and indicated by like reference numerals. In this form, however, there are a plurality of folded, auxiliary sheets, in fact three. These sheets will now be described, one at a time, reference being had at first to Fig. 6.

First, there is a folded, auxiliary sheet 65 shown unfolded in Fig. 6, foldable along a line 61, and having two leaves 69 and 1|, and having two perforations 13. The carrier is threaded through the perforations 13, but in this case the major portion of the Wire is without the fold and the minor portions of the wire are received in the minor portions of the fold, between the perforations and the lateral margins of the sheet.

A second auxiliary sheet 11 shown partially unfolded in Fig, 5, foldable along a line 19 and having two leaves 8| and 83 and having two perforations and two apertures 81 like unto those hereinbefore described is likewise supported on the wire, but in this case the principal portion of the wire is within the principal portion of the fold and the minor portions of the wire (between the perforations 85 and lateral margins of the sheet) are without the fold.

This arrangement of the first and second auxiliary sheets enables both to be placed upon one wire, as will be perhaps more evident from an inspection of Fig. 1.

A third, auxiliary sheet 89 (see Fig. 5) folded along a line 9| has two leaves v93 and 95, but has no perforations or apertures, the leaf being of small size and being received between the hinge members. As shown the leaf 95 is in the nature of a tongue and has converging edges 91 which enable it to be introduced easily between the hinges, and thus to hang the sheet onto the wire. This sheet may, therefore, be applied to and removed from the wire without disturbing any other sheet or sheets.

This second embodiment of the invention provides a great area for records on the several pages of its folded, auxiliary sheets in addition to the main record on the main or master card,

and therefore possesses advantages over the rst form.

Having thus described two forms or embodiments of the invention, but without limiting myself thereto, what I claim and desire by Letters ing a pintle received within a portion of the fold of said secondary sheet and extending through said perforations, and a plurality of hinge members secured to said primary sheet and mounted on said pintle to turn about the axis of the latter, said hinge members being received in said apertures, respectively, and being attachable to and detachable from said pintle without removing said secondary sheet from said pintle.

2. In a card index, the combination of two sheets, one of which is folded and provided with apertures in its fold, and sheet holding instrumentalities comprising an elongated bar by which the folded sheet is supported directly by embracing said bar, and members by which the second sheet is supported indirectly by engagement of said members with said bar, said members being received in said apertures, said members, with said second sheet attached thereto, being attachable to and detachable from said bar without removing said rst sheet from said bar.

3. In a paper le, the combination of a frame, a series of hangers detachably supported by said frame, a pair of card supports supported by each hanger, a series of cards each supported by one pair of said card supports, and a series of sheets folded across and supported by direct contact with said hangers, respectively, each sheet being provided with a pair of apertures in which said supports are received.

4. In a paper le, the combination of a frame, a series of hangers supported by said frame, a series of cards, a series of pairs of clips secured to said cards, respectively, and detachably secured to said hangers, respectively, and a series of folded sheets supported at their folded margins by said hangers, respectively, independently of said cards, said folded margins being provided with pairs of apertures in which said pairs of clips are received.

5. In a paper file, the combination of a frame, a series of hangers supported by said frame, a series of cards, a series of pairs of clips secured to said cards, respectively, and having means positively interlocked with said hangers, respectively, and capable of being unlocked and removed therefrom, and a series of folded sheets whose folds embrace said hangers, respectively, independently of said cards and said clips, each folded sheet being provided with a pair of apertures which receive a pair of clips.

6. In a card index, the combination of a master card, a folded primary sheet, a folded secondary sheet, a hanger received within a portion of the fold of said primary sheet and within a portion of said secondary sheet, and a plurality of clips secured to said master card and detachably attached to said hanger.

7. In a card index, the combination of a folded, primary sheet having a first leaf and a second leaf provided with a plurality of apertures, a folded, secondary sheet provided with a plurality of apertures, a hanger received within the fold of said secondary sheet, and a plurality of clips secured to said first leaf and received in the apertures of said second leaf and also received in the apertures of said secondary sheet.

8. In a card index, the combination of two folded sheets, each provided with two perforations adjacent its fold, one sheet being provided with two apertures adjacent its fold and intermediate said perforations, a pintle received in that portion only of the fold of the last-named sheet, which is betwen said perforations, said pintle being also received in those portions only of the other sheet which are between said perforations and the lateral margins thereof, a third sheet, and two hinge members attached to said third sheet, received in said apertures, respectively, and attached to said pintle.

9. In a card index, the combination of two folded sheets, each provided with two perforations adjacent its fold, one sheet being provided with two apertures adjacent its fold and intermediate said perforations, a pintle received in that portion only of the fold of the last-named sheet, which is between said perforations, said pintle being also received in those portions only of the other sheet which are between said perforations and the lateral margins thereof, a third sheet, two hinge members attached to said third sheet, received in said apertures, respectively, and attached to said pintle, and a fourth sheet received in the fold of said sheet which is provided with said apertures, said fourth sheet having a portion which is folded over said pintle between said hinge members.

10. In a card index, the combination of two folded sheets, each provided with two perforations adjacent its fold, one sheet being provided with two apertures adjacent its fold and intermediate said perforations, a pintle received in that portion only of the fold of the last-named sheet which is between said perforations, said pintle being. also received in those portions only of the other sheet which are between said perforations and the lateral margins thereof, a third sheet disposed between said folded sheets, and two hinge members attached to said third sheet, received in said apertures respectively, and attached to said pintle.

l1. In a card index, the combination of a pintle, two folded sheets, each attached along its folded margin to said pintle, one sheet being provided with a plurality of apertures adjacent its fold, a third sheet, and a plurality of hinge members attached to said third sheet, received in said apertures, respectively, and attached to saidpintle.

12. In a card index, the combination. of a pintle, two folded sheets, each attached along its folded margin to said pintle, one sheet being provided with a plurality of apertures adjacent its fold, a third sheet disposed between said folded sheets, and a plurality of hinge members attached to said third sheet, received in said apertures, respectively, and attached to said pintle.

13. In a card index, the combination of a pintle, two folded sheets, each with its folded margin without the fold of the other, and each attached along its folded margin to said pintle, one sheet being provided with a plurality of apertures intersected by its fold, a third sheet, and a plurality of hinge members attached to said third sheet, received in said apertures, respectively, and attached to said pintle.

14. In a card index, the combination of a pintle, two folded sheets, each with its folded margin without the fold of the other, and each attached along its folded margin to said pintle, one sheet being provided with a plurality of apertures intersected by its fold, a third sheet, a plurality of hinge members attached to said third sheet, received in said apertures, respectively, and attached to said pintle, and a fourth sheet having a portion folded over said pintle.

RAYMOND C. FINCH. 

